St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-30
THE LAWYERS OPPOSED.
A UnaniEis ous Sentiment against til
Police Communion, ELL


A Unanimous Sentiment against the
Police COmnlisSt0n ELL.
The police commission Is quite likely to
be defeated. Tie bill provides that four
commissioners shall be appointed by the
district court judges, and shall be mon
partisan" and unpaid for their labors. The
id ca is of course to make the mayor a mere
figure head, and by preventing popular
vote to keep the city government in the
hands of set of men who shall be APP
pointed, not elected. Strong disapproval of
the bill is heard on all sides. but the loudest
protests come from members of
the bar, who object to addi-
tionaI burdens being placed upon
the shoulders of the judges of the district
court, and fear that the election of the jul
dietary will become heated political fight
instead Of nOn-partiSan selection. The
following expressions Of opinion gathered
yesterday are from prominent at
torneys, Republicans in each instance, and
can be taken as vOicing the sentiment of the
entire bar:
E. NJ Johuson-No, sir, 10 not believe in
police commission as provided for in the
board Of trade bill, but believe in a commits
sion. Why? Because l think that by secur-
ing non partiZan police commissioners the
pollce force can be run like the fire de-
partInent is o%, uninfuenced by pol
itics. [ think that such q board
should be composed Of two Democrats and
two Republicans with the mayor as an eX-
oficio member. Let the first commissioners
be appointed by the governor, and then let
the terms OF one Democratic and one Repub-
Hcan commissioner eXpiresevery two years,
their places to be flied by men elected in-
stead of appointed. The board of trade bill
is cut of the question. l think that Mime
apolis if fitted to govern itself without calling
upon the judges of its court to appoint police
commissions. The board of trade was about
Qually divided upon the question OF appoint
ment by the judges, and YOU will find how
few outside of that small majority are in
favor of such Il bill.
rJudge Bailey, OF the municipal COURT
believe in a commission if we can get the
proper men in if. What we need in our CITY
government are good, clean business men
For this reason 1 think the office of police
commissioners should be Ii salaried one. l
should th INK the judges of the district court
would naturally shrink from appointing the
them.
, County Attorney Davis am in favor of a
Psce commission, / think. but do not ap-
1--WE of the board of trade bill. most en-
phatically do not think the judges should be
required to appoint the commissioners. 1t
would be an imposition upon men who are
already smothered with work; besides, the
effect would be to make the election OF q
Judge partisan ofhcer. ana TINS should be
strenuously avoided. 1 am in favor, besides,
OF making the Office elective and paying fair
saarieS.
Assistant Coundy Attorney Jamison-I sup
pose if Ames was not mayor that no one
would have thought of asking for commits
sion. l don't know much about the question,
and don't understand that there is any par
tjeular necessity for commission. The
comni ssioners should not be appointed by
the Judges at any rate.
A B. Jackson-I take only the interest OF
n citizen in politics. and hardly think am
eratified 10 give an intelligent opinion as to
the advisablity of a police commission.
l suppose the suggestion arrives because the
nresent mayor is not popular with certain